San Diego Chargers

Chargers make trek to Illinois to escape fires

October 29, 2003|By David Haugh, Tribune staff reporter.

Bears assistant coach Pete Carmichael was driving home Sunday from Soldier Field with his wife Elaine when a cell phone call put the victory they were celebrating in perspective. Carmichael learned his son, San Diego Chargers assistant Pete, had to evacuate his wife and two young kids from their San Diego home because of the Southern California wildfires. About 12 houses had been damaged in Pete Jr.'s neighborhood, and more danger lurked.

The Chargers felt similarly helpless Tuesday as smoke blanketed the area around Qualcomm Stadium, so the team made arrangements to leave for Champaign. The Chargers plan to arrive Wednesday and practice at the University of Illinois facilities in preparation for Sunday's game against the Bears.

Safety concerns already had forced the Chargers to move their Monday night game hastily from San Diego to Tempe, Ariz. When Carmichael spoke to his son on Sunday night after the Bears' game, that decision had not yet been made.

"Then, boom, boom, boom, they changed it to [Tempe]," he said Tuesday night.